Secure product identification and verification

ABSTRACT

A device may receive an indication that a product has arrived at a destination. The product may have been shipped by an entity to the destination. The device may perform an analysis on the product to determine an attribute of the product. The device may perform a comparison of information identifying the attribute of the product and information included in an encrypted record, for the product, of a blockchain, to verify the attribute of the product. The information included in the encrypted record may be related to attributes of the product. The attributes of the product may have been determined by the entity that shipped the product to the destination. The device may determine whether the attribute of the product is verified based on performing the comparison. The device may perform an action based on determining whether the attribute of the product is verified.

BACKGROUND

A blockchain is a distributed database that maintains acontinuously-growing list of records, called blocks, that may be linkedtogether to form a chain. Each block in the blockchain may contain atimestamp and a link to a previous block and/or transaction. The blocksmay be secured from tampering and revision. In addition, a blockchainmay include a secure transaction ledger database shared by partiesparticipating in an established, distributed network of computers. Ablockchain may record a transaction (e.g., an exchange or transfer ofinformation) that occurs in the network, thereby reducing or eliminatingthe need for trusted/centralized third parties. In some cases, theparties participating in a transaction may not know the identities ofany other parties participating in the transaction but can securelyexchange information. Further, the distributed ledger may correspond toa record of consensus with a cryptographic audit trail that ismaintained and validated by several separate computers.

SUMMARY

According to some possible implementations, a device may include one ormore processors to receive information regarding a product to be shippedto a destination. The product may have an origin. The one or moreprocessors may perform an analysis on the product using an analysistechnique. The analysis technique may be used to determine a chemicalidentity of the product. The chemical identity may uniquely identify theproduct with respect to a plurality of other products from originsdiffering from the origin of the product. The one or more processors maydetermine, from the chemical identity, an attribute of the product. Theattribute may be an identifier for the product. The one or moreprocessors may create a block or a transaction of a blockchain for theproduct. The block or the transaction may store the informationregarding the product, information identifying the chemical identity ofthe product, information identifying the attribute of the product, orinformation identifying a quantity of the product. The blockchain may beaccessible during transportation of the product to the destination. Theblockchain may be analyzed during transportation of the product to thedestination to verify the attribute or the chemical identity.

According to some possible implementations, a method may includereceiving, by one or more devices, information regarding an item to beshipped to a destination. The method may include performing, by the oneor more devices, an analysis on the item to determine an identifier ofthe item. The method may include determining, by the one or more devicesand from the identifier, an attribute of the item. The method mayinclude creating, by the one or more devices, an encrypted record, forthe item, of a blockchain. The encrypted record may include theinformation regarding the item, information identifying the attribute,and information identifying a term of a contract. The blockchain may beaccessible during transportation of the item to the destination. Theblockchain may be analyzed, at a plurality of stages duringtransportation of the item to the destination, to verify the blockchain.

According to some possible implementations, a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium may store one or more instructions that, whenexecuted by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors toreceive an indication that a product has arrived at a destination. Theproduct may have been shipped by an entity to the destination. The oneor more instructions may cause the one or more processors to perform ananalysis on the product to determine an attribute of the product. Theone or more instructions may cause the one or more processors to performa comparison of information identifying the attribute of the product andinformation included in an encrypted record, for the product, of ablockchain, to verify the attribute of the product. The informationincluded in the encrypted record may be related to one or moreattributes of the product. The one or more attributes of the product mayhave been determined by the entity that shipped the product to thedestination. The one or more instructions may cause the one or moreprocessors to determine whether the attribute of the product is verifiedbased on performing the comparison. The one or more instructions maycause the one or more processors to perform an action based ondetermining whether the attribute of the product is verified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1D are diagrams of an overview of an example implementationdescribed herein;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example environment in which systems and/ormethods, described herein, may be implemented;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of example components of one or more devices of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example process for securely identifyingand verifying a product;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of another example process for securelyidentifying and verifying a product;

FIGS. 6A-6G are diagrams of an example data structure described herein;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of another example implementation described herein;and

FIG. 8 is a diagram of another example implementation described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of example implementations refers tothe accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in differentdrawings may identify the same or similar elements.

A product, such as a commodity, medicine, food, beverages, cosmetics, orthe like, may have a chemical identity that is associated with anattribute of the product, such as an origin (e.g., a geographiclocation) or a quality level of the product. In some cases, entities maywant to contract for a particular attribute as part of a transaction. Insuch a case, however, the entities may lack a technique that permitsidentification and/or verification of the particular attribute.

Implementations described herein enable entities to determine a chemicalidentity of a product at each of different stages (e.g., duringtransportation of the product), to securely store informationidentifying the chemical identity of the product at each stage using ablockchain database, and to quickly and efficiently verify the chemicalidentity (e.g., to determine fulfillment of contract terms using a smartcontract) by comparing the stored information from different stages.Additionally, implementations described herein enable entities (e.g.,companies, regulatory agencies, or insurance entities) to access and/orexchange the stored information in a distributed, secure, and anonymousmanner while maintaining fidelity of the stored information.

In this way, security related to a transfer of the product is increasedby determining whether an attribute of the product has changed. Inaddition, security is increased by permitting an analytics system todetermine at which stage (e.g., of a supply chain) a product wasmodified or tampered with. Furthermore, processing resources areconserved by enabling quick and efficient verification of an attributeof the product, and an efficiency related to fulfillment of contractterms is increased. The combination of using a blockchain and a smartcontract to securely transport a product and determine satisfaction of acontract term improves a transaction related to the product via securityof the blockchain and processing of a smart contract.

FIGS. 1A-1D are diagrams of an overview of an example implementation 100described herein. As shown in FIG. 1A, example implementation 100 mayinclude an analytics system, a blockchain database, and a robot R1, of aproduct producer, with a sensor device. As shown by reference number105, robot R1 may use the sensor device (e.g., an infrared spectrometer)to analyze a product of the product producer to determine a chemicalidentity (e.g., a chemical composition) of the product. The chemicalidentity may identify an attribute of the product, such as a geographicorigin of the product, a particular manufacturing or processing plantfrom which the product originated, a quality of the product, and/or thelike.

As shown by reference number 110, robot R1 may provide informationidentifying the chemical identity to the analytics system. As shown byreference number 115, the analytics system may store the informationidentifying the chemical identity in an encrypted record, such as ablock, and/or a transaction (e.g., a transfer of information) of ablock, in a blockchain database. In some implementations, the analyticssystem may store additional information in the block and/or transactionwith the information identifying the chemical identity. For example, theanalytics system may store information identifying the product producer,a calendar date and/or time at which the chemical identity wasdetermined, and/or the like.

As shown by reference number 120, the product producer may provide theproduct to another entity, such as a product distributor. For example,the product producer may transfer the product to the product distributorvia rail, boat, truck, pipeline, vessel, or another mode oftransportation.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the product distributor may have robot R2 with asensor device. As shown by reference number 125, the product distributormay receive the product from the product producer. As shown by referencenumber 130, robot R2 of the product distributor may use the sensordevice to analyze the product to determine a chemical identity of theproduct. The robot of the product distributor may analyze the product ina manner similar to that of robot R1 of the product producer.

As shown by reference number 135, robot R2 of the product distributormay provide information identifying the chemical identity to theanalytics system. As shown by reference number 140, the analytics systemmay verify the chemical identity using the previously stored blockand/or transaction in the blockchain database. For example, theanalytics system may compare the chemical identity determined by robotR2 of the product distributor to the chemical identity determined byrobot R1 of the product producer to verify the chemical identity.Assume, for example, for FIG. 1B that the comparison of the chemicalidentities indicates a match. As shown by reference number 145, theanalytics system may store a block and/or transaction associated withthe product distributor (e.g., a block and/or transaction that is inaddition to the block and/or transaction associated with the productproducer).

As shown by reference number 150, the product distributor may providethe product to another entity, such as a product retailer. For example,similar to the transfer from the product producer to the productdistributor, the product distributor may transfer the product to theproduct distributor via rail, boat, truck, or another mode oftransportation.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the product retailer may have robot R3 with asensor device. As shown by reference number 155, the product retailermay receive the product from the product distributor. As shown byreference number 160, robot R3 of the product retailer may use thesensor device to analyze the product to determine a chemical identity ofthe product. Robot R3 of the product retailer may analyze the product ina manner similar to that of robot R1 of the product producer and/orrobot R2 of the product distributor.

As shown by reference number 165, robot R3 of the product retailer mayprovide information identifying the chemical identity to the analyticssystem. As shown by reference number 170, the analytics system mayverify the chemical identity using the previously stored blocks and/ortransactions in the blockchain database. For example, the analyticssystem may compare the chemical identity determined by robot R3 of theproduct retailer to the chemical identity determined by robot R1 of theproduct producer and/or the chemical identity determined by robot R2 ofthe product distributor to verify the chemical identity. Assume, forexample, for FIG. 1C that the comparison of the chemical identitiesindicates a match. As shown by reference number 175, the analyticssystem may store a new block and/or transaction associated with theproduct distributor.

As shown by reference number 180, the analytics system may perform anaction (e.g., based on verifying the chemical identity of the product).For example, the analytics system may automatically cause a transfer ofa value (e.g., a payment) from the product retailer to another entity.As another example, the analytics system may provide a message (e.g.,for display) to a user device of an individual associated with anentity. As another example, the analytics system may store informationrelated to the chemical identity (e.g., a result of verifying thechemical identity, information identifying a stage of a supply chainwhere a modification to the product occurred, information indicatingwhether a term of a smart contract is satisfied, etc.).

As another example, the analytics system may determine whether a term ofa smart contract is satisfied. In some implementations, a smart contractmay include an electronically stored contract where a term of thecontract is defined using program code and which can be used toautomatically facilitate, verify, execute, and/or enforce negotiationand/or performance of a term of the contract on a distributed ledger.This permits verification of a term of a smart contract via a consensusrelated to distributed information. In addition, this reduces oreliminates the need for third party verification of contract terms basedon specification of events that can occur with respect to thetransaction being performed.

In this way, an analytics system may verify a product using a chemicalidentity of the product and may determine at what point in a series oftransfers, if any, an alteration or modification to the product occurredby analyzing a set of blocks and/or transactions (e.g., of ablockchain). This increases security related to a transfer of theproduct by determining whether an attribute of the product has changedor has been altered during the transfer. In addition, this conservesprocessing resources by permitting the analytics system to quickly andefficiently verify an attribute of the product (e.g., such as when theproduct is received from a trusted entity). Furthermore, this increasesan efficiency related to fulfillment of contract terms related to theproduct.

FIG. 1D shows an overview of example implementation 100. As shown inFIG. 1D, and by reference number 185-1, a product producer, using arobot or a system, may provide information identifying the chemicalidentity of a product to an analytics system. For example, the productproducer may provide the information identifying the chemical identityafter analyzing the product using the robot. As shown by referencenumber 190, the analytics system may verify and/or store the informationidentifying the chemical identity of the product. In this case, theanalytics system may store the information identifying the chemicalidentity in a block (e.g., a genesis block) and/or a transaction of ablock, of a blockchain (e.g., using a blockchain database). Theanalytics system may not verify the chemical identity in this casebecause the product producer is the first entity to analyze the product.As shown by reference number 195-1, the product producer may ship theproduct, using a mode of transportation, to customs (e.g., at a port, aborder checkpoint, or an airport).

As shown by reference number 185-2, customs may provide informationidentifying the chemical identity to the analytics system (e.g., using arobot or a system). For example, customs may provide the informationidentifying the chemical identity to the analytics system based onanalyzing the product (e.g., using a robot). As shown by referencenumber 190, the analytics system may verify and/or store the chemicalidentity. For example, the analytics system may verify that theinformation received from customs matches the information stored in theblock and/or transaction created based on receiving information from theproduct producer. Continuing with the previous example, the analyticssystem may store the information from customs in another block and/ortransaction of the blockchain and may link, or associate, the createdblock, transaction, or other information with the block and/ortransaction storing the original information from the product producer.As shown by reference number 195-2, customs may permit the product to beshipped to a product distributor (e.g., based on verifying the chemicalidentity of the product).

As shown by reference number 185-3, the product distributor may provideinformation identifying the chemical identity of the product to theanalytics system (e.g., based on analyzing the product using a robot).As shown by reference number 190, the analytics system may store and/orverify the chemical identity of the product received by the productproducer from customs. For example, the analytics system may verify thechemical identity using the information stored in the blocks and/ortransactions created for the product distributor and for customs. Insome implementations, the analytics system may create another blockand/or transaction to store the information received from the productdistributor and may add the other block and/or transaction to theblockchain. As shown by reference number 195-3, the product may beshipped from the product producer to a storage facility.

As shown by reference number 185-4, the storage facility may provideinformation identifying the chemical identity of the product receivedfrom the product distributor to the analytics system (e.g., based onanalyzing the product using a robot). As shown by reference number 190,the analytics system may verify and/or store the chemical identity ofthe product received from the product distributor. For example, theanalytics system may compare the information received from the storagefacility and information stored in the blocks and/or transactions of theblockchain to verify the chemical identity of the product received fromthe product distributor. In some implementations, the analytics systemmay create another block and/or transaction to store the informationreceived from the storage facility and may add the other block and/ortransaction to the blockchain. As shown by reference number 195-4, theproduct may be shipped from the storage facility to a product retailer.

As shown by reference number 185-5, the product retailer may provideinformation identifying the chemical identity of the product receivedfrom the storage facility to the analytics system (e.g., based onanalyzing the product using a robot). As shown by reference number 190,the analytics system may verify and/or store the chemical identity ofthe product received from the storage facility. For example, theanalytics system may compare the information received from the productretailer to information stored in each of the blocks and/or transactionsof the blockchain to verify the chemical identity of the productreceived from the storage facility. In some implementations, theanalytics system may store the information identifying the chemicalidentity in a block and/or transaction and may add the block and/ortransaction to the blockchain. Additionally, or alternatively, theanalytics system may perform another action, such as causing a valueassociated with the product to be transferred, based on verifying thechemical identity of the product.

As indicated above, FIGS. 1A-1D are provided merely as an example. Otherexamples are possible and may differ from what was described with regardto FIGS. 1A-1D. For example, verification may be performed at one ormore points in a supply chain, such as at each port, checkpoint, or thelike, via which a product passes when being transported to a destination(e.g., a product retailer). In addition, verification may be performedwhen the product arrives at a destination and all blocks and/ortransactions have been added to a blockchain and/or at each pointbetween a source and a destination as each block and/or transaction isgenerated.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example environment 200 in which systemsand/or methods, described herein, may be implemented. As shown in FIG.2, environment 200 may include an analytics system 205, a cloudcomputing environment 210, a set of computing resources 215, a sensordevice 220, a user device 225, one or more server devices 230 (referredto collectively as “server devices 230,” and individually as “serverdevice 230”), and a client device 235. Devices of environment 200 mayinterconnect via wired connections, wireless connections, or acombination of wired and wireless connections.

Analytics system 205 includes one or more devices capable of determiningand/or verifying a chemical identity and/or an attribute (e.g., aquality, a location of origin, etc.) of a product. For example,analytics system 205 may include a cloud server or a group of cloudservers. In some implementations, analytics system 205 may be designedto be modular such that certain software components can be swapped in orout depending on a particular need. As such, analytics system 205 may beeasily and/or quickly reconfigured for different uses.

In some implementations, as shown, analytics system 205 may be hosted incloud computing environment 210. Notably, while implementationsdescribed herein describe analytics system 205 as being hosted in cloudcomputing environment 210, in some implementations, analytics system 205may not be cloud-based (i.e., may be implemented outside of a cloudcomputing environment) or may be partially cloud-based.

Cloud computing environment 210 includes an environment that hostsanalytics system 205. Cloud computing environment 210 may providecomputation, software, data access, storage, etc. services that do notrequire end-user (e.g., client device 235) knowledge of a physicallocation and configuration of system(s) and/or device(s) that hostanalytics system 205. As shown, cloud computing environment 210 mayinclude a group of computing resources 215 (referred to collectively as“computing resources 215” and individually as “computing resource 215”).

Computing resource 215 includes one or more personal computers,workstation computers, server devices, or other types of computationand/or communication devices. In some implementations, computingresource 215 may host analytics system 205. The cloud resources mayinclude compute instances executing in computing resource 215, storagedevices provided in computing resource 215, data transfer devicesprovided by computing resource 215, etc. In some implementations,computing resource 215 may communicate with other computing resources215 via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination ofwired and wireless connections.

As further shown in FIG. 2, computing resource 215 may include a groupof cloud resources, such as one or more applications (“APPs”) 215-1, oneor more virtual machines (“VMs”) 215-2, one or more virtualized storages(“VSs”) 215-3, or one or more hypervisors (“HYPs”) 215-4.

Application 215-1 includes one or more software applications that may beprovided to or accessed by one or more devices of environment 200.Application 215-1 may eliminate a need to install and execute thesoftware applications on devices of environment 200. For example,application 215-1 may include software associated with analytics system205 and/or any other software capable of being provided via cloudcomputing environment 210. In some implementations, one application215-1 may send/receive information to/from one or more otherapplications 215-1, via virtual machine 215-2.

Virtual machine 215-2 includes a software implementation of a machine(e.g., a computer) that executes programs like a physical machine.Virtual machine 215-2 may be either a system virtual machine or aprocess virtual machine, depending upon use and degree of correspondenceto any real machine by virtual machine 215-2. A system virtual machinemay provide a complete system platform that supports execution of acomplete operating system (“OS”). A process virtual machine may executea single program, and may support a single process. In someimplementations, virtual machine 215-2 may execute on behalf of a user(e.g., client device 235), and may manage infrastructure of cloudcomputing environment 210, such as data management, synchronization, orlong-duration data transfers.

Virtualized storage 215-3 includes one or more storage systems and/orone or more devices that use virtualization techniques within thestorage systems or devices of computing resource 215. In someimplementations, within the context of a storage system, types ofvirtualizations may include block virtualization and filevirtualization. Block virtualization may refer to abstraction (orseparation) of logical storage from physical storage so that the storagesystem may be accessed without regard to physical storage orheterogeneous structure. The separation may permit administrators of thestorage system flexibility in how the administrators manage storage forend users. File virtualization may eliminate dependencies between dataaccessed at a file level and a location where files are physicallystored. This may enable optimization of storage use, serverconsolidation, and/or performance of non-disruptive file migrations.

Hypervisor 215-4 may provide hardware virtualization techniques thatallow multiple operating systems (e.g., “guest operating systems”) toexecute concurrently on a host computer, such as computing resource 215.Hypervisor 215-4 may present a virtual operating platform to the guestoperating systems, and may manage the execution of the guest operatingsystems. Multiple instances of a variety of operating systems may sharevirtualized hardware resources.

Sensor device 220 includes one or more devices for obtainingsensor-related information. For example, sensor device 220 may include aspectrometer (e.g., an infrared spectrometer, an ultravioletspectrometer, or a mass spectrometer), a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)analyzer or another device capable of determining a DNA identity of anorganism, a camera (e.g., a visual spectrum imaging camera, an infraredor near infrared imaging camera, a multispectral imaging camera, ahyperspectral imaging camera, a thermal imaging camera, a laser mappingimagery camera, etc.), a reader device (e.g., a radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) reader, a barcode reader, or a Quick response (QR)code reader) to read an RFID tag, a barcode tag, or a QR code tag, or asimilar type of device, such as a device that may aid in gatheringinformation related to an attribute of a product. In someimplementations, sensor device 220 may be attached to a robot, anunmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), user device 225, or a similar type ofdevice/vehicle. In some implementations, sensor device 220 may gatherinformation associated with a product, such as a chemical identity ofthe product, a type of the product, a quantity of the product, aquality/grade of the product, or a similar type of information, asdescribed elsewhere herein. Additionally, or alternatively, sensordevice 220 may provide the information for transmission to analyticssystem 205, as described elsewhere herein.

User device 225 includes one or more devices capable of receiving,generating, storing, processing, and/or providing information associatedwith a product. For example, user device 225 may include a communicationand/or computing device, such as a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone ora radiotelephone), a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a gamingdevice, a wearable communication device (e.g., a smart wristwatch, apair of smart eyeglasses, or an activity band), a robot, an unmannedaerial vehicle (UAV), or a similar type of device. In someimplementations, user device 225 may transmit information related to aproduct (e.g., gathered using sensor device 220) to analytics system205, as described elsewhere herein. Additionally, or alternatively, userdevice 225 may receive information and/or a message related to a productfrom analytics system 205, as described elsewhere herein.

Server device 230 includes one or more devices capable of storing,processing, and/or routing information associated with a product. Forexample, server device 230 may include a server (e.g., in a data centeror a cloud computing environment), a data center (e.g., a multi-servermicro data center), a workstation computer, a virtual machine (VM)provided in a cloud computing environment, or a similar type of device.In some implementations, server device 230 may include a communicationinterface that allows server device 230 to receive information fromand/or transmit information to other devices in environment 200. In someimplementations, server device 230 may receive information associatedwith a product from analytics system 205 and may store the information(e.g., in a blockchain database), as described elsewhere herein.Additionally, or alternatively, server device 230 may provide theinformation to analytics system 205, such as to enable analytics system205 to verify the information, as described elsewhere herein.

Client device 235 includes one or more devices capable of receiving,generating, storing, processing, and/or providing information associatedwith a product. For example, client device 235 may include acommunication and/or computing device, such as a mobile phone (e.g., asmart phone or a radiotelephone), a laptop computer, a tablet computer,a gaming device, a wearable communication device (e.g., a smartwristwatch, a pair of smart eyeglasses, or an activity band), or asimilar type of device.

The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown in FIG. 2 areprovided as an example. In practice, there may be additional devicesand/or networks, fewer devices and/or networks, different devices and/ornetworks, or differently arranged devices and/or networks than thoseshown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, two or more devices shown in FIG. 2 may beimplemented within a single device, or a single device shown in FIG. 2may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, oralternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) ofenvironment 200 may perform one or more functions described as beingperformed by another set of devices of environment 200.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of example components of a device 300. Device 300may correspond to analytics system 205, cloud computing environment 210,computing resources 215, sensor device 220, user device 225, serverdevice 230, and/or client device 235. In some implementations, analyticssystem 205, cloud computing environment 210, computing resources 215,sensor device 220, user device 225, server device 230, and/or clientdevice 235 may include one or more devices 300 and/or one or morecomponents of device 300. As shown in FIG. 3, device 300 may include abus 310, a processor 320, a memory 330, a storage component 340, aninput component 350, an output component 360, and a communicationinterface 370.

Bus 310 includes a component that permits communication among thecomponents of device 300. Processor 320 is implemented in hardware,firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. Processor 320includes a processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), and/or an accelerated processing unit (APU)), amicroprocessor, a microcontroller, and/or any processing component(e.g., a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and/or anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) that interprets and/orexecutes instructions. In some implementations, processor 320 includesone or more processors capable of being programmed to perform afunction. Memory 330 includes a random access memory (RAM), a read onlymemory (ROM), and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device(e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory) thatstores information and/or instructions for use by processor 320.

Storage component 340 stores information and/or software related to theoperation and use of device 300. For example, storage component 340 mayinclude a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, amagneto-optic disk, and/or a solid state disk), a compact disc (CD), adigital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a cartridge, a magnetictape, and/or another type of non-transitory computer-readable medium,along with a corresponding drive.

Input component 350 includes a component that permits device 300 toreceive information, such as via user input (e.g., a touch screendisplay, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, and/or amicrophone). Additionally, or alternatively, input component 350 mayinclude a sensor for sensing information (e.g., a global positioningsystem (GPS) component, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and/or anactuator). Output component 360 includes a component that providesoutput information from device 300 (e.g., a display, a speaker, and/orone or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs)).

Communication interface 370 includes a transceiver-like component (e.g.,a transceiver and/or a separate receiver and transmitter) that enablesdevice 300 to communicate with other devices, such as via a wiredconnection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired andwireless connections. Communication interface 370 may permit device 300to receive information from another device and/or provide information toanother device. For example, communication interface 370 may include anEthernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, aninfrared interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, a universal serialbus (USB) interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a cellular network interface, orthe like.

Device 300 may perform one or more processes described herein. Device300 may perform these processes in response to processor 320 executingsoftware instructions stored by a non-transitory computer-readablemedium, such as memory 330 and/or storage component 340. Acomputer-readable medium is defined herein as a non-transitory memorydevice. A memory device includes memory space within a single physicalstorage device or memory space spread across multiple physical storagedevices. In some implementations, a memory device may be cloud-based,partially cloud-based, or not cloud-based.

Software instructions may be read into memory 330 and/or storagecomponent 340 from another computer-readable medium or from anotherdevice via communication interface 370. When executed, softwareinstructions stored in memory 330 and/or storage component 340 may causeprocessor 320 to perform one or more processes described herein.Additionally, or alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in placeof or in combination with software instructions to perform one or moreprocesses described herein. Thus, implementations described herein arenot limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry andsoftware.

The number and arrangement of components shown in FIG. 3 are provided asan example. In practice, device 300 may include additional components,fewer components, different components, or differently arrangedcomponents than those shown in FIG. 3. Additionally, or alternatively, aset of components (e.g., one or more components) of device 300 mayperform one or more functions described as being performed by anotherset of components of device 300.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example process 400 for securelyidentifying and verifying a product. Specifically, process 400 mayrelate to a process performed by an entity that produces a product, anentity that ships a product to a destination, an entity that temporarilystores a product, an entity that loads or offloads a product, an entitythat checks a product (e.g., customs), an entity that insures a product(e.g., during transportation), an entity that finances a product (e.g.,finances purchase of a product using credit), or the like. In someimplementations, one or more process blocks of FIG. 4 may be performedby analytics system 205. In some implementations, one or more processblocks of FIG. 4 may be performed by another device or a group ofdevices separate from or including analytics system 205, such as sensordevice 220, user device 225, server device 230, or client device 235.

As shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include receiving productinformation regarding a product to be shipped to a destination (block410). For example, analytics system 205 may receive product informationfrom sensor device 220 (e.g., directly or via user device 225). In someimplementations, analytics system 205 may receive the productinformation periodically, according to a schedule, based on requestingthe information, once sensor device 220 gathers the product information,or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, analytics system 205 mayreceive the product information automatically from another device whensensor device 220 gathers the product information.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may receive the productinformation as text. For example, the product information may include adocument with text, such as a text file, a text document, a web document(e.g., a webpage), a file that includes text, or the like. In someimplementations, analytics system may receive the product informationbased on processing text to identify terms and/or tags included in thetext. For example, analytics system 205 may process the text usingnatural language processing, text analysis, and/or computationallinguistics to identify (e.g., extract) terms, a set of characters, suchas a character string, a misspelled word, an acronym, a tag, and/or thelike. In some implementations, when analytics system 205 processes text,analytics system 205 may generate a list of unique terms included in thetext (e.g., where the unique terms include product information). Forexample, analytics system 205 may generate a list of unique terms basedon identifying the terms and/or the tags. In this way, analytics system205 may quickly and efficiently gather product information from text.

In some implementations, product information may include informationrelated to a product. For example, product information may includeinformation identifying a product quantity, type, quality, origin,destination, source, and/or the like. In some implementations, productinformation may be related to a contract for the product. For example,the product information may be related to terms of a contract for theproduct, such as terms that indicate a quantity, quality, or value of aproduct.

In some implementations, a product may include anything that can beoffered to a market. For example, a product may include any item thatcan be analyzed to obtain a chemical or molecular identity of the item.In some implementations, a product may include a commodity(refined/unrefined, processed/unprocessed, etc.), such as oil orgasoline, an agricultural product, or a metal. In some implementations,a product may include other items or goods, such as manufactured orrefined goods (e.g., food, medicine, or cosmetics). In someimplementations, the item being shipped may not be a product but mayinclude an organism, such as animals (e.g., cattle, livestock, or otheranimals), plants (e.g., flowers, trees, or vegetables), fungus,bacteria, a person (e.g., a passenger of vehicle, such as a vehiclepassing via a border check point), and/or the like. In someimplementations, the item being shipped may include an infectious agent,such as a virus. In other words, the item being shipped may include anyitem that can be identified, or have an attribute thereof identified, bya chemical identity, a molecular identity, a DNA identity, and/or thelike. In some implementations, a product may include hundreds,thousands, or millions of products, each with a chemical identity and ablockchain.

In this way, analytics system 205 may quickly and efficiently receiveproduct information related to a product.

As further shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include performing ananalysis on the product to determine a chemical identity of the product(block 420). For example, analytics system 205 may perform a spectralanalysis, another type of analysis, on the product using sensor device220. In some implementations, analytics system 205 may perform theanalysis to determine a chemical identity of the product.

In some implementations, a chemical identity may include a compositionof a product, such as a chemical, molecular, elemental, mineral, oratomic composition, and/or the like. In some implementations, a chemicalidentity may include a DNA identity or a similar type of identity, suchas to identify cattle, livestock, a bacterium, a plant, a person, or avirus. In some implementations, a chemical identity may identify anattribute of the product. For example, an attribute of the product mayinclude a type of the product, a quality and/or grade of the product, anorigin location of the product, a manufacturing and/or refining processapplied to the product, and/or the like.

In some implementations, an analysis may include a spectral analysis orany other type of analysis technique (e.g., depending on the item to beanalyzed). In some implementations, a spectral analysis may include ananalysis technique related to a spectrum of frequencies or relatedqualities, such as energies, eigenvalues, or the like. For example, thespectral analysis may include a spectroscopy technique, such as aninfrared (IR) spectroscopy technique, a molecular spectroscopytechnique, or an ultraviolet spectroscopy technique. Additionally, oralternatively, the spectral analysis may include any other analysistechnique that can identify a chemical identity of a product.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may identify a particularanalysis technique, out of a set of analysis techniques, to perform. Insome implementations, analytics system 205 may identify a particularanalysis technique to perform based on product information (e.g., a typeof the product, a mode of transportation of the product, etc.) and/orinput from a user of client device 235. For example, analytics system205 may determine that the product is oil and that the mode oftransportation is a truck (e.g., using product information). In thiscase, analytics system 205 may determine that an IR spectrometrytechnique, or any other technique that can provide results that satisfya threshold accuracy (e.g., 90 percent accurate, 99.9 percent accurate,etc.), combined with random sampling is to be used to analyze the oil,such as by using a data structure that associates informationidentifying oil transported via a truck and the IR spectrometrytechnique. In this way, analytics system 205 may quickly and efficientlyidentify an analysis technique to use to analyze the product, therebyconserving processing resources of analytics system 205. Additionalexamples of modes of transportation and the analysis techniques thatcould be used with the modes of transportation are described elsewhereherein.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may select the analysistechnique when analytics system 205 identifies the analysis technique.For example, analytics system 205 may select the analysis techniqueusing a data structure that includes information identifying types ofitems to analyze, various modes of transportation used to transport thetypes of items, and various analysis techniques to use based on the typeof item being shipped and the mode of transportation being used, asdescribed in more detail elsewhere herein. In some implementations,analytics system 205 may store information identifying the selectedanalysis technique. For example, analytics system 205 may storeinformation identifying the analysis technique in a block and/ortransaction of the blockchain. This improves verification of the productby enabling analytics system 205 to determine the analysis techniqueused for each verification. In addition, this conserves processingresources by reducing or eliminating the need for analytics system 205to re-identify the analysis technique for a product.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may perform the analysis.For example, analytics system 205 may perform the analysis when aproduct arrives at a destination, when the product is located at aparticular stage of transportation on the way to the destination, orwhen the product is ready to be sent to the destination (e.g., usingsensor device 220 or sending a message to sensor device 220 to performthe analysis).

In some implementations, performance of the analysis may vary based on atransportation method of the product. For example, when the productincludes oil transported via a pipeline, analytics system 205 mayperform the spectral analysis at various time intervals and/or atvarious points along a pipeline. As another example, when the productincludes oil transported via truck, train, vessel, or another vehicle(e.g., in barrels or tanks), analytics system 205 may perform theanalysis on a random sample of the oil, such as by randomly selectingbarrels or tanks to sample. As another example, analytics system 205 mayperform an analysis at various depths of a container, such as when oilis transported via boat or another container (e.g., having a volume thatsatisfies a threshold). In this way, accuracy of determining a chemicalidentity is increased by accounting for products that may stratify, orsettle into layers, in a container. This improves analysis of theproduct by permitting dynamic use of various analysis techniques basedon a transportation method of the product.

In some implementations, a device other than analytics system 205 mayperform the analysis. For example, a user device 225, equipped withsensor device 220, may perform a spectral analysis. In this case, arobot or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with sensor device 220may perform the analysis. Additionally, or alternatively, a worker usinguser device 225 may perform the analysis. In some implementations,analytics system 205 may cause the other device to perform the analysisby transmitting a command, a message, or a set of instructions to theother device. Additionally, or alternatively, the other device mayautomatically perform the analysis based on receiving an indication(e.g., from analytics system 205, server device 230, or client device235) that a product has arrived at a destination, has arrived at one ormore of possibly multiple stages before reaching the destination, or isready to be shipped to the destination.

In this way, analytics system 205 may quickly and efficiently perform ananalysis of a product, thereby conserving processing resources.

As further shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include determining, fromthe chemical identity, an identifier that identifies an attribute of theproduct (block 430). For example, analytics system 205 may determine thesource from which the product originated, an identity of a person beingtransported, or whether an additive has been added to an agriculturalproduct. In some implementations, analytics system 205 may determine theattribute based on the chemical identity of the product.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may determine theattribute using information stored in a data structure. For example,analytics system 205 may determine the source using a data structurethat identifies chemical identities and includes corresponding sourceidentifiers that identify various sources of products. In someimplementations, analytics system 205 may compare informationidentifying the chemical identity of the product to information includedin the data structure and determine the attribute of the product whenthe comparison indicates a match.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may store the datastructure (e.g., locally). Additionally, or alternatively, anotherdevice, such as a server device 230, may store the data structure. Insome cases, server device 230 may be controlled by an entity differentfrom an entity involved in the production, distribution, and/or retailof the product (e.g., a third party). In some implementations, whenserver device 230 is controlled by a third party, the third party mayinclude a trusted entity, such as a regulatory entity, a broker, agovernment entity, and/or the like. In some implementations, when thethird party is a trusted entity, the third party may have the authorityto store information in the blockchain, to determine whether a term of acontract is satisfied, to verify whether a product or other item wasanalyzed, to verify a result of the analysis, and/or the like. In thisway, security of a transaction related to a product is increased byproviding a third party with control of the data structure that storesinformation about chemical identities and attributes of products. Inaddition, this improves information sharing across a transportationnetwork or supply chain for a product and increases trust in a shipmentof the product.

In some implementations, a source may include a place of origin of theproduct. For example, a source may include a geographic location orregion from which a product originated (e.g., the Gulf of Mexico, theMidwest of the United States, or the North Sea), a manufacturing,refining, and/or processing facility from which the product originated,and/or the like. In some implementations, a source may be identified bya chemical identity of the product. For example, where the productincludes oil, minerals in the oil may identify a geographic region fromwhich the oil originated, other chemicals in the oil may identify aparticular drilling platform that was used to extract the oil or anentity that extracted the oil, and/or the like.

In this way, analytics system 205 may determine a source and/or otherinformation related to a product based on a chemical identity of theproduct that can be used to secure the transportation of the productfrom a source to a destination.

As further shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include creating anencrypted record, for the product, of a blockchain (block 440). Forexample, analytics system 205 may create an encrypted record, ortransaction/block (e.g., a genesis block), that stores the chemicalidentity, product information, and/or other information related to theproduct or related to a transaction involving the product. As anotherexample, analytics system 205 may store a link to other blocks and/ortransactions of the blockchain (e.g., encrypted records of previoustransactions involving the product, encrypted records of previousspectral analyses, etc.). In some implementations, the block and/ortransaction may be included in a set of blocks and/or transactions thatform a chain, or a blockchain.

In some implementations, a block of a blockchain may include informationrelated to one or more transactions. For example, a transaction mayinclude an exchange of information between two or more addresses in anetwork, such as an Internet protocol (IP) addresses, a bitcoin address,or another unique identifier that identifies a particular device ordestination for information being exchanged. In some implementations, atransaction may include information that identifies a source of theinformation being exchanged (e.g., a product producer). Additionally, oralternatively, a transaction may include the information being exchanged(e.g., product information, information identifying a term of acontract, etc.). Additionally, or alternatively, a transaction mayinclude information identifying a destination of the information beingexchanged (e.g., a product distributor).

In some implementations, a transaction may be completed using acombination of information identifying a source of information beingexchanged and/or a destination for the exchanged information.Additionally, or alternatively, a transaction may be completed usingpublic and private keys, such as to digitally sign a message used toexchange information (e.g., product information).

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may store the block and/ortransaction in a blockchain database (e.g., a blockchain databaseaccessible to analytics system 205). For example, analytics system 205may store the block and/or transaction in a blockchain database that isdistributed across multiple server devices 230. In this way, analyticssystem 205 increases security of storing the chemical identity, productinformation, and/or other information related to a transactionassociated with the product.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may use a cryptographictechnique when creating an encrypted record. For example, analyticssystem 205 may encrypt product information and/or informationidentifying a chemical identity using a cryptographic hash function.Continuing with the previous example, when analytics system 205 uses acryptographic hash function, analytics system 205 may store output(e.g., a digest) of the cryptographic hash function in a block and/ortransaction of the blockchain. In this way, analytics system 205 maycreate an encrypted record for the product, thereby increasing securityof storing information related to the product.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may perform an action(e.g., based on creating the encrypted record). For example, analyticssystem 205 may transmit a message (e.g., a short message services (SMS)message to an entity indicating that a product is ready to be, or isbeing, shipped to/from the entity). As another example, analytics system205 may schedule the product for shipment, such as by adding the productto an electronic queue of products to be shipped. As another example,analytics system 205 may send a message to a vehicle (e.g., adriverless/autonomous truck, train, plane, boat, or other vehicle) totransport the product from a facility of one entity to a facility ofanother entity, including providing the vehicle with instructions and/ordirections from the facility to the other facility. In this way,analytics system 205 may quickly and efficiently send informationrelated to the product.

In some implementations, when transmitting a message to an entity,analytics system 205 may encrypt the message, such as when the messageincludes product information, information related to a chemical identityof the product, and/or the like. For example, analytics system 205 mayencrypt the message using a public-key cryptography technique, oranother type of encryption technique. This increases security related tosending information related to the product to various entities.

In this way, analytics system 205 may securely store information relatedto a product, such as product information and/or information identifyinga chemical identity of the product.

Although FIG. 4 shows example blocks of process 400, in someimplementations, process 400 may include additional blocks, fewerblocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than thosedepicted in FIG. 4. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of theblocks of process 400 may be performed in parallel.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of another example process 500 for securelyidentifying and verifying a product. Specifically, process 500 mayrelate to a process performed by an entity that receives a product(e.g., a product distributor or a product retailer), that istransporting a product, or the like. In some implementations, one ormore process blocks of FIG. 5 may be performed by analytics system 205.In some implementations, one or more process blocks of FIG. 5 may beperformed by another device or a group of devices separate from orincluding analytics system 205, such as sensor device 220, user device225, server device 230, or client device 235.

As shown in FIG. 5, process 500 may include receiving an indication thata product has arrived at a destination (block 510) and performing ananalysis on the product to determine a chemical identity of the product(block 520). For example, analytics system 205 may receive an indicationfrom user device 225, server device 230, or another device that aproduct has arrived at a facility related to an entity (e.g., adistribution or retail facility related to a product distributor, aproduct retailer, one or more other points in a supply chain, such ascustoms, a storage facility, or a transportation facility). In someimplementations, analytics system 205 may receive the indicationperiodically, according to a schedule, based on requesting informationrelated to whether a product has arrived at a particular stage (e.g., ashipping point, a destination, etc.), or based on the product beingdetected as arriving at the particular location.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may use historicalinformation related to an amount of travel time between an entityshipping a product and an entity receiving the product to predict oridentify a potentially fraudulent shipment. For example, analyticssystem 205 may identify a shipment where the amount of time for theshipment may indicate that the shipment was diverted from an expectedroute without authorization, was halted unexpectedly, such as when theproduct is to be tampered with, and/or the like. In someimplementations, when identifying potentially fraudulent shipments,analytics system 205 may compare information identifying an amount oftime for a shipment and historical information related to a similarshipment and determine whether a difference between the amounts of timesatisfies a threshold. In some implementations, when identifyingpotentially fraudulent shipments, analytics system 205 may base theidentification on other real-time or near real-time information, such astraffic conditions, road conditions, weather conditions, and/or the liketo adjust the expected amount of shipping time.

In some implementations, analytics system 205, or another device, mayperform an analysis (e.g., a spectral analysis) of the product todetermine a chemical identity of the product. For example, analyticssystem 205 may perform the analysis of the product in a manner similarto that described above. In some implementations, analytics system 205may use the same technique as was used to previously determine achemical identity at another point in a supply chain. For example,analytics system 205 may use information stored in a block and/ortransaction of a blockchain to identify the analysis technique used atanother point in the supply chain to determine the chemical identity.Continuing with the previous example, analytics system 205 may selectthe same analysis technique based on identifying the analysis techniquein the block and/or transaction. In this way, analytics system 205 maydetermine a chemical identity of the product based on performing theanalysis of the product.

As further shown in FIG. 5, process 500 may include comparing thechemical identity to information included in an encrypted record, forthe product, of a blockchain, to verify the chemical identity of theproduct (block 530). For example, analytics system 205 may obtaininformation from the blockchain that identifies a chemical identity ofthe product (e.g., by decrypting the encrypted record). In someimplementations, analytics system 205 may compare the chemical identitydetermined from performing the analysis and information included in theencrypted record to verify the chemical identity of the product.

In some implementations, the encrypted record may include a set ofblocks and/or transactions of a blockchain. For example, the blockchainmay include multiple blocks and/or transactions, where each block and/ortransaction was added to the blockchain when an analysis was performedat various points of a supply chain, thereby enabling detection oftampering or modification to the product at, or between, the variouspoints of the supply chain. In some implementations, the encryptedrecord may relate to a set of previous transactions or analyses. Forexample, where a product retailer receives a product, the encryptedrecord may include information identifying a chemical identitydetermined by a product producer and/or a product distributor prior tothe product arriving at the product retailer.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may compare the chemicalidentity to multiple chemical identities determined by other entities.For example, analytics system 205 may compare the chemical identitydetermined when a product retailer received the product to chemicalidentities previously determined by a product producer and/or a productdistributor. In this way, security of verifying the product is increasedby enabling analytics system 205 to determine whether a chemicalidentity of a product has remained the same as the product has beenhandled by different entities.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may identify a portion ofa supply chain where tampering of a product may have occurred (e.g., inreal-time or near real-time). For example, assume that analytics system205 fails to verify the product at a fourth point in a supply chain. Inthis case, analytics system 205 may determine that tampering occurred ata third point in the supply chain after verification of the product, atthe fourth point in the supply chain, or between the third point and thefourth point. This permits analytics system 205 to quickly andaccurately identify a point in a supply chain where tampering may haveoccurred during transportation of a product.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may verify the chemicalidentity of the product. For example, analytics system 205 may verifythe chemical identity of the product when a comparison of informationidentifying the chemical identity and information in the encryptedrecord match. Conversely, analytics system 205 may not verify thechemical identity when the comparison does not indicate a match.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may need the chemicalidentity to match information identified by multiple records to verifythe chemical identity. For example, analytics system 205 may need thechemical identity to match information in all blocks and/or transactionsof the same blockchain for analytics system 205 to verify the chemicalidentity. As another example, analytics system 205 may need the chemicalidentity to match information in a threshold quantity or percentage ofblocks and/or transactions of the same blockchain for analytics system205 to verify the chemical identity. As another example, analyticssystem 205 may need differences, between proportions or percentages ofchemicals that comprise the chemical identity of a product received byan entity and proportions or percentages determined by other entities,to satisfy a threshold. Continuing with the previous example, thethreshold may be defined in, or included as a term of, a smart contractor other contractual agreement between parties. Additionally, oralternatively, the threshold may be defined by a third party (e.g., aregulatory entity) or may be established over time based on historicalresults of the analysis.

In some implementations, the term of a contract between the parties orother information related to the item being shipped may be stored in theblockchain (e.g., in addition to information identifying a chemicalidentity of the product). In this way, analytics system 205 increasessecurity of verifying a chemical identity of a product and enablesverification of the chemical identity as the product is exchanged amongdifferent entities. In addition, using a combination of a smart contractand information stored in a blockchain increases security of atransaction, increases security of an item being shipped, and increasesan accuracy of verifying the item being shipped.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may perform decryption ora comparison of encrypted information to verify the chemical identity.For example, when a blockchain database uses a cryptographic hashfunction to encrypt information related to the product, analytics system205 may compare an output of the same cryptographic hash function usinginformation received from sensor device 220 and/or user device 225 andan output of the hash function stored in a block and/or transaction ofthe blockchain database. In this case, analytics system 205 may verifythe chemical identity or other information related to the product whenthe outputs match. In some implementations, analytics system 205 mayreceive a value (e.g., a prize) for decrypting or verifying the chemicalidentity.

In this way, analytics system 205 may quickly and efficiently verify thechemical identity of the product.

As further shown in FIG. 5, process 500 may include performing an actionbased on whether the chemical identity of the product is verified (block540). For example, analytics system 205 may perform an action related tothe product, an attribute of the product, the chemical identity of theproduct, or a contract associated with the product. In someimplementations, analytics system 205 may perform the action based onverifying the chemical identity (e.g., using the encrypted record).

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may create and/or store anencrypted record when analytics system 205 verifies the chemicalidentity. For example, analytics system 205 may create an encryptedrecord that includes the determined chemical identity in a mannersimilar to that described above. Conversely, analytics system 205 maynot create and/or store an encrypted record when analytics system 205does not verify the chemical identity.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may perform an actionrelated to the product. For example, analytics system 205 may generate awork order to have the product processed for acceptance (e.g., placed onshelves, placed on a vehicle for transportation, incorporated into amanufacturing process, etc.) when the chemical identity is verified,thereby increasing an efficiency of processing the product foracceptance. Additionally, or alternatively, analytics system 205 maysend a message to another device, such as user device 225 (e.g., a robotor a device used by a worker), to process the product for acceptance,thereby increasing an efficiency of processing the product foracceptance. In the case of a robot, and for example, the message maycause the robot to unload the product from a vehicle. As anotherexample, analytics system 205 may generate a work order and/or provideinstructions to a driverless/autonomous vehicle to return the product(e.g., to a facility of another entity) when analytics system 205 doesnot verify the product, thereby increasing an efficiency of returningthe product.

In some implementations, analytics system 205 may perform an actionrelated to a contract associated with a product. For example, analyticssystem 205 may cause a value for the product to be transferred whenanalytics system 205 verifies the chemical identity of the productand/or another attribute related to the product (e.g., quantity,quality, etc.). As another example, analytics system 205 may halttransfer of a value when analytics system 205 does not verify theproduct. In this way, analytics system 205 may quickly and efficientlyperform an action related to a contract associated with the product.

Additionally, or alternatively, analytics system 205 may trigger analert or send a message, such as a short message service (SMS) messageor an email (e.g., to a manager of the entity, a government entity thatregulates the product, etc.) depending on whether analytics system 205verifies the product. In some implementations, the message or alert maybe customized or predetermined based on different situations (e.g.,based on whether the chemical identity is verified, whether the productis an expected quality, whether an expected quantity of the product wasreceived, etc.). This increases an efficiency of providing informationrelated to the product, thereby conserving processing resources.

Additionally, or alternatively, analytics system 205 may schedule ameeting. For example, analytics system 205 may schedule a meeting amongmanagers of the entity to discuss the product (e.g., by using electroniccalendars associated with the managers to identify a meeting time). Thisincreases an efficiency of scheduling a meeting among managers of theentity. Additionally, or alternatively, analytics system 205 maydispatch an investigator to investigate the product, such as when ananalysis indicates that the product has been tampered with or alteredbetween two points in a supply chain. For example, analytics system 205may send a message to user device 225 of an investigator and/or to adispatch system to dispatch the investigator. This increases anefficiency of causing an investigator to be dispatched to investigate aproduct.

In this way, analytics system 205 may automatically perform an actionrelated to the product and/or verifying the chemical identity of theproduct. This increases an efficiency of performing an action based onverifying the product.

Although FIG. 5 shows example blocks of process 500, in someimplementations, process 500 may include additional blocks, fewerblocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than thosedepicted in FIG. 5. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of theblocks of process 500 may be performed in parallel.

FIGS. 6A-6G are diagrams of an example data structure 600 describedherein. For example, data structure 600 may be used by analytics system205 to select an analysis technique and/or a sampling method for aproduct based on a type of an item being shipped and/or a mode oftransportation being used to transport the item, as described elsewhereherein. As shown in FIG. 6A, data structure 600 may include informationthat identifies a type of item being shipped, a mode of transportationbeing used to transport the item, various sampling methods to be usedfor each mode of transportation, and various analysis techniques to beused to analyze the item. For example, hydrocarbons and/or hydrocarbonproducts (e.g., oil, gasoline, etc.) may be transported by truck, rail,and/or vessel.

As further shown in FIG. 6A, various sampling methods may be used whenhydrocarbons and/or hydrocarbon products are transported using differentmodes of transportation. In some implementations, the various samplingmethods may include random sampling techniques. For example, for oiltransported by truck, the sampling method may include obtaining multiplesamples from the truck (e.g., from a tank of a truck or from a barreltransported by the truck) and/or obtaining multiple samples fromdifferent, random points of a truck (e.g., from different depths of atruck tank, from different points along a length of a truck tank, fromdifferent barrels on a truck, etc.). As another example, for oiltransported by rail, the sampling method may include obtaining samplesin a manner similar to that described with respect to a truck (e.g.,obtaining samples from different depths of a tank wagon/tank car, fromdifferent barrels on a railway wagon/railroad car, etc.).

As another example, for oil transported by a vessel, the sampling methodmay include obtaining samples in a manner similar to that described withrespect to a truck tank (e.g., obtaining samples from different depthsof the vessel, from different points along a length of the vessel,etc.). This may permit samples to be obtained from various length,width, and/or height truck tanks, tank wagons, and/or vessels, therebyimproving sampling.

As further shown by FIG. 6A, the information may identify exampleanalysis techniques that can be used to analyze the type of item. Forexample, for hydrocarbons/hydrocarbon products, analytics system 205 mayuse gas chromatography mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, etc.

In some implementations, a sampling method and/or analysis technique maysatisfy a threshold accuracy (e.g., 90 percent accurate, 99.9 percentaccurate, etc.) related to the chemical identity or other attribute ofthe product. For example, the threshold may be defined by a third party,such as a regulatory entity, be included as a term of a smart contract,be based on historical data related to the accuracy of the samplingmethod and/or the analysis technique, and/or the like. FIGS. 6B-6G showinformation similar to that described with respect to FIG. 6A for othertypes of items.

As indicated above, FIGS. 6A-6G are provided merely as an example. Otherexamples are possible and may differ from what was described with regardto FIGS. 6A-6G.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of an example implementation 700 described herein.As shown in FIG. 7, and by reference number 710, analytics system 205may store product information in a blockchain using an applicationprogram interface (API). For example, analytics system 205 may store theproduct information based on performing an analysis of the product beingshipped.

As further shown in FIG. 7, entity A may provide a product to entity B(e.g., using a mode of transportation). As shown by reference number720, analytics system 205 may verify product information of the productwhen entity B receives the product from entity A. For example, analyticssystem 205 may use an analysis technique to determine productinformation of the shipped product and may compare the determinedproduct information and product information stored in a blockchain toverify the shipped product. As shown by reference number 730, analyticssystem 205 may cause a value to be transferred based on verifying theproduct information and/or determining that a term of a smart contracthas been satisfied. For example, analytics system 205 may cause money tobe transferred from entity B to entity A. In this way, analytics system205 may quickly and securely verify terms of a contract based onverifying product information of a product shipped from one entity toanother. This increases an efficiency and security of the transaction.

As indicated above, FIG. 7 is provided merely as an example. Otherexamples are possible and may differ from what was described with regardto FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an example implementation 800 described herein.As shown in FIG. 8, and by reference number 810, a seller may attempt tosell a product to a buyer. As shown by reference number 820, the buyermay request that analytics system 205 verify the product (e.g., byverifying product information). As shown by reference number 830,analytics system 205 may verify the product information (e.g.,determined from an analysis of the product) by comparing the determinedproduct information to information stored in a blockchain, such aspublically accessible information. As shown by reference number 840,analytics system 205 may determine a result of verifying the productinformation. In some implementations, analytics system 205 may determinea result of the verification by determining whether the comparisonindicates a match.

As shown by reference number 850, analytics system 205 may provideinformation to the sender indicating a result of the verification (e.g.,whether the product information is verified or not verified). Forexample, analytics system 205 may provide a message indicating that theproduct information was verified. As another example, analytics system205 may provide an alert message to the buyer, such as when the productinformation is not verified. As shown by reference number 860, analyticssystem 205 may determine whether a term of a smart contract has beensatisfied. In some implementations, analytics system 205 may perform anaction based on determining that the term of the smart contract issatisfied (e.g., cause a value to be transferred from an account of thebuyer to an account of the seller).

As shown by reference number 870, analytics system 205 may providetransaction information to another entity (e.g., a regulatory entity).For example, analytics system 205 may provide information indicating thetype of product transacted, a value exchanged, whether the seller and/orbuyer are registered or licensed, and/or the like. As shown by referencenumber 880, the entity may perform an action related to the transaction.For example, a regulatory entity may store a record of the transaction,blacklist a buyer and/or a seller based on the transaction violating arule and/or a law, and/or the like.

As shown by reference number 890, the regulatory entity may storeinformation in the blockchain related to the transaction. For example,the regulatory entity may use analytics system 205 to store a blacklist,a crime report, policy information, and/or the like. In someimplementations, the information stored by the regulatory entity may beprivate and accessible by a particular entity (e.g., another regulatoryentity, a governmental entity, a law enforcement entity, etc.). In thisway, the blockchain may store private information, such as a blacklist,and/or public information, such as a chemical identity. In this way,analytics system 205 may quickly and securely verify a term of acontract based on verifying product information of a product shippedfrom one entity to another. This increases an efficiency and security ofthe transaction.

As indicated above, FIG. 8 is provided merely as an example. Otherexamples are possible and may differ from what was described with regardto FIG. 8.

Implementations described herein enable an analytics system to determinea chemical identity of a product at each of different stages of transfer(e.g., during transportation of the product), to securely storeinformation identifying the chemical identity of the product at eachstage using a blockchain database, and to quickly and efficiently verifythe chemical identity (e.g., to determine fulfillment of contract terms)by comparing the stored information from different stages. In this way,security related to a transfer of the product is increased bydetermining whether an attribute of the product has changed as theproduct is exchange/transported among entities, sub-entities of anentity, facilities of one or more entities, and/or the like.Furthermore, processing resources are conserved by enabling quick andefficient verification of the chemical identity and/or an attribute ofthe product, and an efficiency related to fulfillment of contract termsis increased.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to theprecise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of theimplementations.

As used herein, the term component is intended to be broadly construedas hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software.

Some implementations are described herein in connection with thresholds.As used herein, satisfying a threshold may refer to a value beinggreater than the threshold, more than the threshold, higher than thethreshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than thethreshold, fewer than the threshold, lower than the threshold, less thanor equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, etc.

It will be apparent that systems and/or methods, described herein, maybe implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, or acombination of hardware and software. The actual specialized controlhardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methodsis not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behaviorof the systems and/or methods were described herein without reference tospecific software code—it being understood that software and hardwarecan be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based on thedescription herein.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure of possible implementations. In fact,many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recitedin the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although eachdependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, thedisclosure of possible implementations includes each dependent claim incombination with every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed ascritical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as usedherein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or moreitems, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Furthermore,as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items(e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related andunrelated items, etc.), and may be used interchangeably with “one ormore.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similarlanguage is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,”“having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, thephrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on”unless explicitly stated otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving, by one or moredevices, first information regarding an item at a first location to beshipped to a destination; performing, by the one or more devices, afirst item analysis on the item to determine a first identifier of theitem, an item analysis including at least one of: a spectral analysis, achemical analysis, or a molecular analysis; determining, by the one ormore devices and from the first identifier, an attribute of the item;creating, by the one or more devices, an encrypted record in ablockchain for the item, the encrypted record including: the firstinformation regarding the item, information identifying the attribute,and information identifying a term of a contract, the blockchain to beaccessible during transportation of the item to the destination, and theblockchain to be analyzed, at a plurality of stages duringtransportation of the item to the destination, to verify the blockchain;receiving, by the one or more devices, second information regarding theitem at a second location; performing, by the one or more devices basedon receiving the second information, a second item analysis on the itemto determine a second identifier of the item; obtaining, by the one ormore devices, the encrypted record from the blockchain; verifying, bythe one or more devices, whether the second identifier matches the firstidentifier using the encrypted record; determining, by the one or moredevices and based on the second identifier not matching the firstidentifier, that tampering of the item occurred during a time period,the time period including one or more of: a first time when the item isat the first location, a second time when the item is at the secondlocation, or a third time that is after the first time and before thesecond time; and performing, by the one or more devices, an action basedon determining that tampering of the item occurred.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: sending a message to a robot or an unmannedaerial vehicle (UAV) to perform the first item analysis; and whereperforming the first item analysis comprises: performing the first itemanalysis based on sending the message to the robot or the UAV.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, where the encrypted record is a first encryptedrecord; and where the method further comprises: receiving an indicationthat the item has arrived at the destination; performing a third itemanalysis on the item; performing a comparison of results of the firstitem analysis and the third item analysis based on performing the thirditem analysis, the comparison being used to verify the blockchain; andcreating a second encrypted record in the blockchain for the item basedon a result of performing the comparison.
 4. The method of claim 1,where the blockchain is to include a plurality of encrypted recordscreated at the plurality of stages during the transportation of theitem, a particular encrypted record of the plurality of encryptedrecords being created based on analyzing the blockchain.
 5. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: sending a message to a driverless orautonomous vehicle to cause the item to be shipped to the destination.6. The method of claim 1, where the item includes a product, acommodity, medicine, food, an organism, or cosmetics.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, where the action is a first action; and where the methodfurther comprises: performing a second action based on verifying thatthe second identifier matches the first identifier, the second actionincluding at least one of: generating a work order to have the itemprocessed for acceptance, scheduling a meeting, or sending a message todispatch an investigator.
 8. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumstoring instructions, the instructions comprising: one or moreinstructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause theone or more processors to: receive first information regarding an itemat a first location to be shipped to a destination; perform a first itemanalysis on the item to determine a first identifier of the item, anitem analysis including at least one of: a spectral analysis, a chemicalanalysis, or a molecular analysis; determine, from the first identifier,an attribute of the item; create an encrypted record in a blockchain forthe item, the encrypted record including: the first informationregarding the item, information identifying the attribute, andinformation identifying a term of a contract, the blockchain to beaccessible during transportation of the item to the destination, and theblockchain to be analyzed, at a plurality of stages duringtransportation of the item to the destination, to verify the blockchain;receive second information regarding the item at a second location;perform, based on receiving the second information, a second itemanalysis on the item to determine a second identifier of the item;obtain the encrypted record from the blockchain; verify whether thesecond identifier matches the first identifier using the encryptedrecord; determine, based on the second identifier not matching the firstidentifier, that tampering of the item occurred during a time period,the time period including one or more of: a first time when the item isat the first location, a second time when the item is at the secondlocation, or a third time that is after the first time and before thesecond time; and perform an action based on determining that tamperingof the item occurred.
 9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 8, where the one or more instructions, when executed by the one ormore processors, further cause the one or more processors to: send amessage to a robot or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to perform thefirst item analysis; and where the one or more instructions, that causethe one or more processors to perform the first item analysis, cause theone or more processors to: perform the first item analysis based onsending the message to the robot or the UAV.
 10. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 8, where the encrypted record is afirst encrypted record; and where the one or more instructions, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, further cause the one or moreprocessors to: receive an indication that the item has arrived at thedestination; perform a third item analysis on the item; perform acomparison of results of the first item analysis and the third itemanalysis based on performing the third item analysis, the comparisonbeing used to verify the blockchain; and create a second encryptedrecord in the blockchain for the item based on a result of performingthe comparison.
 11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim8, where the blockchain is to include a plurality of encrypted recordscreated at the plurality of stages during the transportation of theitem, a particular encrypted record of the plurality of encryptedrecords being created based on analyzing the blockchain.
 12. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, where the one ormore instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, furthercause the one or more processors to: send a message to a driverless orautonomous vehicle to cause the item to be shipped to the destination.13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, where theitem includes a product, a commodity, medicine, food, an organism, orcosmetics.
 14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8,where the action is a first action; and where the one or moreinstructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further causethe one or more processors to: perform a second action based onverifying that the second identifier matches the first identifier, theaction including at least one of: generating a work order to have theitem processed for acceptance, scheduling a meeting, or sending amessage to dispatch an investigator.
 15. A device, comprising: one ormore processors to: receive first information regarding an item at afirst location to be shipped to a destination; perform a first itemanalysis on the item to determine a first identifier of the item, anitem analysis including at least one of: a spectral analysis, a chemicalanalysis, or a molecular analysis; determine, from the first identifier,an attribute of the item; create an encrypted record in a blockchain forthe item, the encrypted record including: the first informationregarding the item, information identifying the attribute, andinformation identifying a term of a contract, the blockchain to beaccessible during transportation of the item to the destination, and theblockchain to be analyzed, at a plurality of stages duringtransportation of the item to the destination, to verify the blockchain;receive second information regarding the item at a second location;perform, based on receiving the second information, a second itemanalysis on the item to determine a second identifier of the item;obtain the encrypted record from the blockchain; verify whether thesecond identifier matches the first identifier using the encryptedrecord; determine, based on the second identifier not matching the firstidentifier, that tampering of the item occurred during a time period,the time period including one or more of: a first time when the item isat the first location, a second time when the item is at the secondlocation, or a third time that is after the first time and before thesecond time; and perform an action based on determining that tamperingof the item occurred.
 16. The device of claim 15, where the one orprocessors are further to: send a message to a robot or an unmannedaerial vehicle (UAV) to perform the first item analysis; and where theone or more processors, when performing the first item analysis, are to:perform the first item analysis based on sending the message to therobot or the UAV.
 17. The device of claim 15, where the encrypted recordis a first encrypted record; and where the one or more processors arefurther to: receive an indication that the item has arrived at thedestination; perform a third item analysis on the item; perform acomparison of results of the first item analysis and the third itemanalysis based on performing the third item analysis, the comparisonbeing used to verify the blockchain; and create a second encryptedrecord in the blockchain for the item based on a result of performingthe comparison.
 18. The device of claim 15, where the blockchain is toinclude a plurality of encrypted records created at the plurality ofstages during the transportation of the item, a particular encryptedrecord of the plurality of encrypted records being created based onanalyzing the blockchain.
 19. The device of claim 15, where the one ormore processors are further to: send a message to a driverless orautonomous vehicle to cause the item to be shipped to the destination.20. The device of claim 15, where the action is a first action; andwhere the one or more processors are further to: perform a second actionbased on verifying that the second identifier matches the firstidentifier, the action including at least one of: generating a workorder to have the item processed for acceptance, scheduling a meeting,or sending a message to dispatch an investigator.